Board of Trustees

Michael Hill, President
Nita Patrick, Vice President
Valerie Jones, Secretary

Barnes & Jackson Honored as Teachers of the Year

Chris Barnes, fifth grade teacher at Elliott last year (who is a Title I support teacher focusing on science this year at Lively), and Greg Jackson, math teacher and Academic Decathlon head coach at Nimitz were honored as this year’s Elementary and Secondary Teachers of the Year at a meeting of the Board of Trustees held in the Nimitz auditorium.

Both teachers received $750 from Irving Schools Foundation (ISF), the use of a car for one school year from Don Herring Mitsubishi, a cell phone from Nokia, a piece of jewelry from Gold ‘n Carats, an engraved plaque, and a photo from Lifetouch. Barnes and Jackson were chosen from among 38 Campus Teachers of the Year across the district.

Barnes joined IISD three years ago, initially as a fourth grade teacher at Davis and for the last two years as a third grade teacher focusing on science at Elliott. He previously worked as a counselor and instructor for two alternative schools in Kentucky. Barnes holds a Bachelor of Arts with an emphasis on sociology from McMurry University. He began his studies at Brookhaven College in Farmers Branch.

Although Barnes expressed pride that the science TAKS scores at Elliott went from last in the district in 2005 to third in 2006, he added that teaching presents a higher calling to him than improved test scores.

“For me, teaching surpasses vocation. The call to love and nurture parents and kids supersedes TEKS and TAKS,” Barnes said.

Jackson has taught math at Nimitz for 32 years and coached the Academic Decathlon Team for 20 years. He worked in the math lab at North Lake College from 1978-1996 and has taught developmental math classes at North Lake for the past 11 years. A graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington, Jackson holds a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics. Jackson, a graduate of MacArthur, came back to Irving to teach in August 1975 at Nimitz after graduating from the University of Texas at Arlington in December 1974.

While Jackson loves his work in the math classrooms and cherishes his work with students, his legacy firmly rests with his dedication to the Nimitz Academic Decathlon Team.

“It is my work with the Academic Decathlon program that means the most to me,” said Jackson, who was named State Academic Decathlon Coach of the Year last spring. “It is also through Academic Decathlon that I believe I have made the strongest contributions to both my school and to Irving ISD.”

A reception for both teachers as well as Campus Teachers of the Year was held before the meeting in the Nimitz front foyer.

Chris Barnes, IISD Elementary Teacher of the Year, is congratulated by the Board of Trustees and Superintendent Jack Singley.

Greg Jackson, IISD Secondary Teacher of the Year, is congratulated by the Board of Trustees and Superintendent Jack Singley.

Campus Teachers of the Year Recognized

Campus Teachers of the Year, chosen from the 38 IISD schools, were recognized at the Board meeting. The Board presented each Campus Teacher of the Year with $250 from Irving Schools Foundation (ISF), a cell phone from Nokia, a framed certificate, and a photo from Lifetouch.

Campus Teachers of the Year are: Lyall Hartley, history, Irving High; Phillip Morgan, theatre/speech/debate, MacArthur; Lindie Serna, hospitality, Academy; Sherry Luckman, reading, Union Bower; Hayley Haglund, reading, Austin; Nancy Chapman, physical education, Bowie; Marla Rhodes, career investigations, Crockett; Ashley Lattner, history, de Zavala; Melissa Skains, English, Houston; Susan Reagan, reading, Lamar; Sue Thomas, English, Travis; Donna Lewis, Secondary Reassignment; Elizabeth Sauceda-Hood, kindergarten-second grade, Wheeler Transitional; Rosalita Montalvo, second grade bilingual, Barton; Candice McFall, special education, Brandenburg; Kimberly Moss, third/fourth grade gifted & talented; Britain; Leah Ford, kindergarten, Brown; Julie Lewis, second grade, Davis; Kusum Dhingra, fifth grade, Farine; Yolanda Flores, second grade bilingual, Gilbert; Stephenie Brewer, fifth grade, Good; Lindsay McCrary, librarian, John Haley; Maria Sanchez, kindergarten bilingual, Thomas Haley; Darren Wilson, instructional technology specialist, Hanes; Jennifer Anderson, fourth grade gifted & talented, Johnston; Kelly Giddens, fourth grade ESL, Keyes; Sandy Donoho, first grade, Lee; Jerri Johnson, second grade, Lively; Francis Salvador, fifth grade GT/ESL, Schulze; David Lewis, physical education, Stipes; Sandra Eggers, first grade, Townley; Kelley Valdez, ESL, Townsell; Georgene Capps, prekindergarten, Clifton; Deborah Patterson, prekindergarten bilingual, Kinkeade; Maria Garcia, prekindergarten, Pierce; and Jennifer Mosley, fifth grade, Elementary Development Center.

In Other Business, Trustees:

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